KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN SUN #9, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 13th, 2021, reunites the four archangels searching for the armor of God when a new archangel with her own agenda arrives on Earth. This latest issue from Mark London fills in the history of Metatron’s origins and highlights that things are quickly reaching the breaking point in God’s absence.
Was It Good?
Yes. Very.
I’m a sucker for angelic warrior fiction, and this title hits all the sweet spots. The story is just close enough to Biblical texts to ring as authentic, but London breathes an air of adventure and fantasy into a wholly original story.
This was my first exposure to the KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN SUN series, and I’m hooked.
Short Story Long
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
We begin on Zion, the hidden realm of the archangels, with a hooded figure asking Sariel for permission to go to Earth. The hidden figure feels a great disturbance in the… *ahem* … balance between life and death. The angel of death, Azrael, is possibly in trouble. Sariel agrees but only if the hidden figure brings back Michael to make good on an old debt.
Again, this is my first exposure to the series but the first few pages sell it so well. Mauricio Villarreal’s art is vibrant and punctuated with starlight in an otherwise heavily-shadowed Zion. The buildings, the gardens, and even the archangels glow with a celestial energy that’s gorgeous.
Admittedly, the art is clearly digital, so some of the scenes look like sketched characters on a 3D background, but Villarreal makes excellent use of panel focus on the characters so it’s not too noticeable.
Cut to Uriel, Ishbaal and Magdalen in David’s library as they discuss Uriel’s faith, or lack thereof. Michael, Gabrielle, and Raphael arrive and are introduced to Magdalen for the first time. I know if I were in Magdalen’s shoes, I’d be as intimated and star struck as she is. This entire scene is about projecting the facial expressions of the characters as they go through ranges of emotions from relief to awe to sadness, and Villarreal pulls it off well.
On the down side, the digital modeling sticks out during the library scene with the renderings of the backgrounds. Villarreal makes great use of blurring to simulate depth, but it creates a disconnect between the scenery and the characters that looks artificial. Again, it’s not noticeable throughout most of the issue, but it’s hard to ignore here.
The assembled fellowship (heh) discuss their next move to retrieve the remaining artifacts and fully assemble the armor of God.
Meanwhile, Metatron rests and heals with the Ogre King as he explains the power of the Seven Seals and their ability to bring about the end times. Metatron explains how he first learned of the Seven Seals in Ancient Egypt when he was still alive and known as Alexander.
It wasn’t necessary to the story, but London throws in a nice mythological twist where Metatron discovers early depictions of Zeus were proven to be an analog to the Christian God. Connecting the dots on ancient myths and legends in creative ways is always a pleasant Easter egg to find.
Alexander/Metatron finds the Seven Seals in an ancient tomb, and orders his general, Cassander, to secretly bury them for safe keeping. It’s clear that Alexander is playing the long game, and it’s neat to see his plans come to fruition many years later. It’s this type of planning in London’s plot structure that shows how much care and detail went into working the story out.
A few days later, the archangels finish their planning to retrieve the remaining relics by splitting into teams. While the group rests before their respective journeys, the hidden figure from the beginning of the issue breaks in and wreaks havoc.
The mortals try to slow her down but fail miserably before Michael arrives to stop her. We then get the big reveal that the hidden figure is Camiel, Death’s sister, and she’s not in a good mood.
Final Thoughts
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN SUN #9, available from Mad Cave Studios on January 13th, 2021, fills in tons of backstory and brings all the players together for a setup issue that doesn’t disappoint. The character art is imaginative and breathtaking, and the story is expertly written. If you’re into angel or fantasy fiction (or both), this is a highly recommended issue.